Folks ,
A few months back an the above subject was discussed
in this forum after the interview of an english man on
BBC who was part of the team searching for the Ninki
Nanka .
The origin of the Ninki trail came about some time
back in 2001 when we though of this fairy tale which
could be used as a good Eco-tourism documentary film .
Our Association which is the Association of small
scale enterprises in tourism (ASSET )together with
Gambia river excursion under the leadership of one of
our members late Monike killy Cole made a good
documentary film call ! Samba lives in Africa ! . Late
Monika's son Samba played the lead role in the film
which later won !THE to do ! award as the best
Eco-tourism film . The film takes us through the
entire beautiful river Gambia to the source of the
river in Futta jallon in guinea and  has a back up of
a jalliba narrating the history and origins of the
ninki nanka . The film was produced by a German t.v
crew and shown through out the world .

We have recently developed a sustainable tourism
project under tourism master plan study which i would
like to share with you :        

CASE STUDY 2: THE “NINKINANKA” TRAIL

The NinkiNanka Trail concept is aimed at developing a
unique eco and ethno-tourism experience with
significant improvement on the livelihood of rural
communities living near the Gambia River.

The project opportunities will be among others;
•	Community participation and ownership in all
aspects;
•	Small communities owned and operated projects
outside the TDA;
•	Small international partnership project with
considerable community involvement;
•	More accommodation up-country of different size and
standard to cater for the different types of clientele
both local and international;
•	Establish a regular river transport system with
higher utilisation of the River Gambia for
ethno-tourism activities;
•	Improvement of quality and quantity of landing sites
along the River Gambia and at Oyster Creek;
•	Encouragement of Gambians to become “eco-tourists
“within their own country.

The whole concept is based on diversification of the
tourism product particularly the involvement of the
local population on eco- and ethno-tourism strategy,
which is “To develop the ecotourism sector as a
national priority in a sustainable, responsible and
acceptable manner. This will help to alleviate poverty
in local rural communities by generating income and
providing employment, increase the foreign exchange
from tourism nationally, raise the social awareness of
the Gambian people and improve the protection of the
environment, thus contributing significantly to the
quality of life of every Gambian.”

The project concept is geared towards poverty
alleviation through skills training and employment
creation, empowerment of the local communities,
linking communities already with established camps and
those that have the potentials, and reduction of the
rural urban drift among others.

The project would initially establish a boat-building
centre that would teach students the art of boat
building, which would serve as the main means of
transportation of tourist and in the long run revive
cargo transportation and also linking communities
within the river Gambia. 

Other skills and training to be introduced in the
scheme would include: 
•	Carpentry,
•	Masonry,
•	Tent making,
•	Outboard engine mechanics,
•	Fishing,
•	Agriculture and horticulture,
•	Basic hospitality services among others. 

The provision of these diverse skills in each of the
villages identified would improve local
entrepreneurship and further improve the livelihood of
individuals and their communities. 
This would also give guarantee to the communities that
all the skills needed are available locally and
revenues generated through the projects would help to
build other facilities i.e. schools, day care centres,
health facilities among others. 

One of the main focuses of the project is to provide
accommodation facilities in the villages identified
for the project. The accommodation facilities will be
of traditional round huts built mainly with local
materials with the assistance of the appropriate
technology unit under the Department of Community
Development. The project would also be used to promote
domestic tourism.

PROJECT DETAILS
Ten villages have been initially identified mainly
because of their location with fairly good access to
the main road and within an acceptable distance to
travel by pirogue within approximately between 4-6
hours. This will open the gate for adventure
travellers as well as tour operators to make best use
of new excursions using pirogue and road transport as
part of a package tour.

The villages identified shall be provided with basic
accommodation facilities such as guesthouses or camps
so far not in existence. The project would also
provide an opportunity for tourist to learn and
experience something unique and unforgettable holiday.
This unique experience is with a real cultural
exchange unspoiled by mass tourism. It will also be an
avenue to enjoy scenic landscape combined with typical
daily life of the Gambia, thus giving the tourists the
opportunity to experience village life, complimented
by hospitality. The visitors will also be involved in
Gambian culture, encounter friendly town and village
folks and take part in another way of life. Such
social interventions between the tourist and the
locals will enrich cross cultural appreciation and
mutual trust. 

Other areas of interest would include visit to
families, learn to cook Gambian cuisines, singing and
dancing, African folk tales, study Gambian plants and
learn about the medicinal values and traditional
methods used as cure through traditional medicine. 

By exposing the visitor to the above will certainly;  

•	Enhance the quality of holiday experience outside
the ‘enclave’ areas of the coastal hotels.
•	Creating at least one ‘must see’ attraction along
the coast. 
•	Improving the standard of existing tour products and
programmes; and 
•	Encouraging the development of additional day
visitor’s activities at the destination areas along
the river. 

IDENTIFICATION OF KEY VILLAGES
It is necessary to venture into towns and villages
listed below and build the necessary infrastructure in
form of landing sites, accommodation facilities and
create a timetable linking existing villages that are
already established as part of the sustainable planned
river transport project. The villages identified are;
Lamin, Tankular, Ballingo, Bambali, Jepenni, Dankunku,
Kaur, Kudang, Tenda Karanfaba and Diabugu.

The villages of Albreda/Juffere, Tumani Tenda,
Bintang, Kemoto, Njawara, Tendaba, Pakaliba, Banging
Bureh, Lamin Koto and Basse are already existing
tourist sites with basic accommodation, suitably
situated along the river with the basic infrastructure
in form of landing site in place.
 
These villages are in perfect distance from each other
within easy reach by pirogue and are also within the
reach of the nature reserves and historical monuments
in their areas.

The proposal to establish the Ninki Nanka Trail is led
by stakeholders in the sustainable tourism sector in
the Gambia mainly within ASSET. The project will be
developed in collaboration with, and at the request
of, village communities on or adjacent to the River
Gambia.
Chi Jamma ,
Bro Sheikh Tejan Nyang   

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